Double championship success for RAC runners25 September 2022 (by D.Cartwright) |
A busy week for Radcliffe Athletic Club runners included two championship races and some new personal bests.
Six members took part in Sunday’s Worsley Woods Five Mile Trail Race, the penultimate fixture in the Central Lancashire Grand Prix which comprises ten races organised and contested by local clubs.
The club’s first finisher was Mike Kontowtt who was 29th overall, and third V55, in 34:49. He was followed by Steven Fawcett who ran 36:26 on the course which had a mixture of paths and trails.
Karen Doherty finished in 44:29, knocking two minutes off her pb. Elaine Bailey was second FV60 in 46:05, Natalie Hitchen ran 54:50 and Sarah Rushton clocked 54:54.
The penultimate race of the Run The Moors Fell Grand Prix also took place on Saturday, with four members flying the flag for Radcliffe at Thieveley Pike Fell Race in Cliviger near Burnley.
There was a real tussle from start to finish between John Gibbs and Craig Norman, who were neck and neck over the tough 4.3-mile course which had three tough climbs totalling 1,312 ft.
Gibbs eventually pipped Norman at the finish to come 14th overall in 38:27, just three seconds ahead of Norman. The pair were also first and second V40s respectively, with just a point separating them in the the age category ahead of the 11th and final race of the series.
Lee Turner ran a great 49:34 and Karen Doherty finished in 1:00:55.
Three members were in half marathon action, with Mia Derbyshire bagging a new pb of 1:36:16 at Warrington Half Marathon. The fantastic time saw her finish sixth lady out of 283.
There was also a new pb on the other side of the country for Ian Swan who was sixth V45 in 1:40:11 at the Humber Bridge Half Marathon.
He ran brilliantly to knock two minutes off his previous mark and was paced by Chris Paxton who ran 1:40:13 on the course which crosses the iconic Humber Bridge twice.
Multi-eventer Lee Cooper was back in action at the Llandudno Triathlon which started at the town’s Victorian pier and comprised a 1,500m swim in the Irish Sea, a 34.75k bike ride and a 10k run. He finished in 3:00:59.
Tracy Wroe flew the flag for Radcliffe at Haga Park Run in Sweden, clocking 35:30 on the course which had amazing scenery.
Closer to home, Chris Paxton was 12th in 19:07 at South Manchester Parkrun, where Peter Hunter ran 21:59 and Sheila Jones was the seventh lady in 22:51.
The weekend’s other parkrun results were: Alderley Park – Stephen Crowe (27:19); Bolton – Andy Wheeler (36:54); Delamere – Cheryl Gallagher (35:50); Heaton Park - Helen Kay (28:46) and Charles Whalley (42:32); Worsley Woods – Alison Howarth (27:24).
